So there you have it - ads are very likely going to be part of Gmail soon. After all, it seems almost silly to not monetize a core app with an absolutely massive install base - between 500 million and a billion. I just hope these ads won't be overly intrusive, and from the looks of things, the Gmail team is approaching the situation with care.

Stop the nitpick for once! There's no free lunch!
Somebody works, somebody pays. You want everything for free and no ads? Common...

Last time I checked I paid for my Android phone. So from my point of view I did pay money and I expect an ad-free mail app as part of the bargain.That is what I get if I buy an iPhone or a Windows Phone.

Last time I checked I paid for my Android phone. So from my point of view I did pay money and I expect an ad-free mail app as part of the bargain.That is what I get if I buy an iPhone or a Windows Phone.

"Stop the nitpick for once! There's no free lunch!
Somebody works, somebody pays. You want everything for free and no ads? Common...

Last time I checked I paid for my Android phone. So from my point of view I did pay money and I expect an ad-free mail app as part of the bargain.That is what I get if I buy an iPhone or a Windows Phone. "

Yes but you paid less. Apple makes their profit on hardware. Their business depends on high user satisfaction, so that people will be willing to pay a premium for the devices. There is no need (and in fact would be counterproductive) to put advertising into core apps because that would drive people away from the platform.

Google makes money on advertising. After all, how much money could they possibly be making by selling something like the Nexus 4 for $200? So you buy the hardware, but you are only covering their costs. They make money from you in retrospect with advertising.

OK, then sell us a version of the application with NO ads. $1, $5, $100, or $1000, whatever you think it is worth to not have to deal with ads at all. Some of us will pay for it. I want NO ads, in ANY software I use, so give me the option of paying a price for that privilege and I will gladly oblige. Don't just make it a requirement that I must deal with ads forevermore to use the application. Not everyone will want to pay, and that is fine, but at least give the option. I do not expect software to be free, I appreciate the work that has gone into creating it and I am willing to pay for it, but ads are NOT the price I want to pay.

F-Droid is a software repository (or "app store") for Android applications; it functions similarly to the Google Play store, but only contains free and open-source software. The apps can be browsed and installed from the F-Droid website or directly from the F-Droid client app (which is not available in the Google Play store, but can be installed by sideloading). The F-Droid client app will automatically update installed F-Droid apps. The website also offers the source code of all applications for download. F-Droid does not require users to sign up and by default hides applications that contains "anti-features" such as advertising, user tracking or dependence on non-free software.